Kav LaOved awarded for contribution to the struggle against human trafficking
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Kav LaOved (Worker's Hotline, association number 580175545) is a nonprofit non governmental organization committed to protecting the rights of disadvantaged workers employed in Israel and by Israelis in the Occupied Territories, including Palestinians, migrant workers, subcontracted workers and new immigrants.
Kav LaOved operates 3 branches in Israel (Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa), and two extensions in the Palestinian Occupied Territories. It is governed by 11 board members, employs 21 staff members and enjoys the support of dozens of committed volunteers. Kav LaOved is women-led at both board and the staff levels.
At the individual level Kav LaOved provides low wage earners with legal unformation and representation. Legal information is available for issues of labour rights, social security, work related accidents, workers' legal status and work permits.
At the public level Kav LaOved uses its knowledge and accumulated experience to promote systemic change. Kav LaOved identifies and exposes phenomena which disempower and exploit workers, and cooperates with other organisations to improve policies and promote law enforcement. Activities include principled legal action, advising parliament members, advocacy with authorities and media work.
Education and advocacy Kav LaOved promotes awareness to worker rights through dissemination of worker rights leaflets in various languages, publication of reports and newsletters and conducting public events and educational workshops.
Civic enforcement is a form of law enforcement which does not go through the court or official enforcement bodies. It includes shaming employers and job brokers who violate worker rights and exposing employers who have been fined or charged for labour law violatoins. Its aim is to empower workers and encourage consumer action, so as to prevent further rights violations.
Cooperation local cooperation is conducted through various NGO forums such as the Forum for the Enforcement of Worker Rights, the Mandatory Pension Coalition, and the Forum for Migrant Worker Related NGOs.
International cooperation includes joint projects wit the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (Qalqilia and Jericho) and the Philippine Center for Migrant Workers Advocacy.
Kav LaOved is a member of the International NGO Platform on the Migrant Workers’ Convention. Kav LaOved interacts regularly with such international bodies as the International Labour Organisation, OSCE's Alliance against Trafficking in Persons, the US state department's office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and the UN's Commission for Human Rights.
Kav LaOved is committed to principles of democracy, equality and international law concerning human and social rights. In particular, the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights protects the right to enjoy favourable work conditions including fair and equal wages under non-discriminatory conditions, adequate health and safety standards, equal opportunity, reasonable limits on work hours and holiday pay (Article 7) and the right to form trade unions (Article 8). Regarding any question of excluding the occupied territories, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) (the independent body that monitors CESCR implementation) states regarding Israel that "the State's obligations under the Covenant apply to all territories and populations under its effective control" (Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Israel (1998)) and that "The Committee continues to be gravely concerned about…Palestinians in the occupied territories who…suffer from impingement of their enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights enshrined in the Covenant, in particular access to work…" ((Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Israel (2001))
Sources of funding Kav LaOved is funded by various charities, human rights foundations and individuals. More details are .
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